A Cochrane systematic review published in 2016 concluded that acupuncture was at least as effective as, or possibly more effective than, preventive drug treatment for migraine prophylaxis with fewer side effects compared with conventional treatments . Cochrane reviews of tension-type headache conclude that acupuncture could be a valuable non-pharmacological tool in patients with frequent, episodic, and chronic tension-type headache.
An observational, cross-sectional study, according to the STROBE guide, was conducted. The study was carried out in the Pain Service Unit of the Son Llàtzer University Hospital of Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Between January 2010 and December 2015, data from patients with chronic refractory headache, which did not respond to conventional treatment for at least 6 months, referred to the Pain Service Unit were examined to ascertain their eligibility.